System of light-beam control



May 20', 1924.

J. Hv HAMMOND. JR

SYSTEM OF LIGHT BEAM CONTRbL Original Filed March 7 1914 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Wflmseee aga 62. 6M

5M {V Wcc.

1 11/06 1130 r John/Hogs Hammo nd, Jr.

May 20, 1924.

J. H. HAMMOND. JR

SYSTEM OF LIGHT BEAM CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March '7,1914 I nvenior:

Wtinessea Jghn/Ha sHammonoLJr y ,(QWL

May 20 1924- J. H. HAMMOND. JR

SYSTEM OF LIGHT BEAM CONTROL Original Filed March '2, 1914 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN HAYS H AMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF LIGHT-BEAM CONTROL.

Application filed March 7, 1914, Serial No. 823,068. Renewed July 24,1923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN HAYS HAM- MOND, Jr.,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gloucester, in'thecounty of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Systems of Light-Beam Control, of which the follow .plied;

ing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relata to light-beam control and in part to the controlof lights, guides or signals by radiant energy, emitted preferably aselectro-magnetic waves from a istant control station.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood,I have disclosed certain embodiments thereof in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation .of a movable body, towhich my invention may be ap- Fig. 2 is a view, artially inside eleva--tion and partially dlagrammatic, of a system embodying my invention;

Fig. 2- is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve employed therein;

Fig. 3 is a view, artially in side elevation and partially in verticalsection, of a somewhat modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a detail in section of the valve shown in Fig. 3.

My invention particularly relates to the control ,of lights or signals,preferably mounted upon or carried by a movable body controlled from adistant station. The movable body may be of any suitable character, andpreferably is one controlled by radiant energy of any desired nature,such as sound, light or electromagnetic waves, but which consistspreferably of electromagnetic waves emitted from the control station.The movable'body may be a water, land or air craft, such as a vessel,vehicle, or aeroplane, but herein I have represented my invention asapplied to a vessel 1, which may be of any suitable type.

I have herein represented a vessel which is particularly adapted forscouting for the pur ose, for example, of searching out imne fiel s atnight, for directing lights against hostile or other ships to assist infiring from shore or other point, and for other purposes.

This vessel is preferably controlled by electromagnetic waves from thecontrol station, and for this purpose I have diagrammatically indicatedthe receiving antenna at 2,

supported upon masts 3. Within the scope of my invention, however, thevessel may be controlled by a crew, or otherwise. Upon the vessel,I-position a light, indicated generally at 4:, it being preferably aSearchlight of sufiicient power tosend a well-developed beam that may bereadily Setected from the observing or control sta- 1on.- I

-By the use of a well-developed beam, it is possible to determineandkeep track of the path of direction of movement of the vemel, so that ifit deviates from its course, or a change of course is desired, this maybe effected from a distant control station. In order, however,efl'ectively to use the beam of light as a means for determining thecourse of'the vessel, it is highly important that meansv be provided tomaintain the beam of light in a fixed, or substantially fixed plane, sothat the pitching-and tossing movements of the vessel, due to waveaction, will not be transmitted to the light.

If the beam of light partook of all tossing and irregular movements ofthe vessel, it would be extremely dificult to use the beam of light forthe purpose of determining its course, or for the purpose of throwinglight upon some other object, toward which the vessel may be moving.

For this purpose, and in accordance with my invention, I provide meansto. maintain the light in a fixed or substantially fixed plane, whichmay be and preferably is a horizontal plane, but which may be any othersuitable plane at an angle to the horizontal. For that purpose, Iprovide standards 5, whereon is mounted a gimbal ring 6, preferablyhaving mounted therein a second gimbal ring 6', that receives andsupports the body 4 of the light. Upon a depending portion 7 of thesearchlight 4., I mount one or more gyroscopes 8, which are constructedand mounted to operate in a horizontal plane or azimuth, or at someother suitable plane or planes, and thereby to maintain the light 4 insuch determined plane, irrespective of the motion of the vessel. Thesaid gyroscopes may be of any suitable type, but preferably I employ aninduction motor, in which the rotor is freely suspended in space, sothat it will maintain its fixed position when rotated at its properspeed. If desired, the entire induction motor can be fixed to the frameof the Searchlight, the latter being mounted in the gimbal rings 6, 6',so that the vessel may rock or move with reference thereto.

Preferably I provide means whereby the emission of rays from theSearchlight 4 can be controlled by light, sound, electromagnetic orother waves from the distant control station. For that purpose, I haveherein represented mechanism whereby upon the receipt of electromagneticwaves, a shutter or occulting mechanism upon the searchlight is operatedto open the shutter. and emit the beam of light.

. Herein for this purpose I have represented the'open, oscillatoryreceiving circuit at 9, this being connected to the winding or coil 10of a closed oscillatory circuit of any suitable type, and shown ashavigig-the'rein a condenser 11, a stopping condenser\-12, and asuitable crystal, or other detector 13 for electrical oscillations. At14 I have indicated a sensitive relay, or other contact making device.These parts may be of any suitable construction not herein necessarymore fully to describe or to indicate.

At 15 I haveindicated a suitable battery or other source of electricenergy, in circuit with the sensitiverelay 14, and at 16 I haveindicated a solenoid, the core or plunger whereof is formed as a valve18 mounted in a valve casing 19 of a cylinder 20, and provided with aport 21 controlling the admission of fluid under pressure through thesupply passage 22. For the purpose I preferably use air under pressure,which is ad.- mitted from a suitable tank or reservoir not herein shown.

Within the cylinder is a piston 23, the

piston rod 24 of which extends through the head 25 of the cylinder, andis provided with a rack 26 meshing with a gear 27 constituting a pawlcarrier on which is pivoted a spring pressed pawl 28. This pawl engagesand is adapted to impart a step-by-step rota tion to a ratchet 29 fixedto a valve 30 whereon said gear 27 is loosely mounted, said valve havingappropriate passages as shown in Fig. 2. Air 'or other suitable fluidunder pressure is supplied to this valve 30 from a reservoir or othersuitable source of supply through an inlet pipe 30'.

ton 33. At opposite sides of the piston, the

cylinder is provided with ports 34, connectedby passages 36-, 37respectively to the having therein a port 41 controlling the supply offluid under pressure through a passage 42 leading from thebeforementioned source ofv supply. Gonnected to the other side of thevalve casing is apassage 43,

which leads to a cylinder 44 having therein a piston 45, the piston rod46 of which is preferably provided with a rack 47 meshing with a pinion48 which controls the operation of the shutter or other occultingmechanism or device for the Searchlight 4.

Upon the admission of fluid pressure through the passage 37 the piston33 is moved toward the left, viewin Fig. 2, so as to bring the port 41into reglster with the passages 42, 43, and admitting the com-' pressedfluid into the passage 43, thereby to operate the shutter or otherdevice to permit the beam of light to be emitted from the Searchlight 4.Upon the termination of the impulse, or series of impulses by which thepiston 33 was moved toward the. left, so as to open the-shutter, thesolenoid 16 isdeenergized, thereby closing the valve 18, and permittingthe compressed air'in the cylinder 20 at the left of the piston 23 to bedischarged through a suitable exhaust port 18. Thereupon the spring 31returns the plunger 23 to its norma position. but without impartingreverse rotation to the valve 30. In this position of the garts, theshutter is open, and the beam of lig t is being emitted, such emissioncontinuing until the receipt of a further impulse b the oscillatorycircuit, whereupon the so enoid 16 is again energized, and the port 21again placed in register with the compressed fluid supply 22. The.rotary valve 30 is thereb turned an-' other step, and the compressedfluid is admitted through the passage 36 to the left hand side of thepiston 33, thereby movin the latter to the right, viewing Fig. 2, anmoving the port 41 out of register with the passages 42, 43, andbringing the latter into register with a suitable exhaust port 49,

thereby permitting the fluid to be exhausted,

from the cylinder 44, 'whereupbn the compressed spring 50 restores theplunger 45 to its former position, and closes the shutter, thusocculting the beam of light.

I- have herein represented a by-pass 51, leading from the cylinder 20 tothe rotary valve 30, and permitting the air or other compressed fluid topass from the cylinder 20 to the rotary valve 30 where it is ex hausted,when the impulse is prolonged, and the piston 23 is moved to the rightpast the openlng to said by-pass 51. When fluid fluid is admit-tedthrough pipe 36 it is exhausted through pipe 37 and said valve 30.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a modified form of means for maintainingthe search light 4 in a predetermined plane, so that its beam, whenemitted, will remain fixed and will not partake of the motions of thevessel or other movablebody or support whereon it is mounted. For thatpurpose, I have represented saidllight as pivotally mounted in suitablesupports 52, whereon also is pivotally mounted a pendulum 53, having asuitable weight 54 integral therewith, the pendulum beingarranged toswing coaxially with the search light 4 and independently thereof. Thebody of the search light 4 is provided with a ring,'or cylinder 55,rigid therewith, and the pendulum 53 at its pivotal end is provided witha cylindrical valve 55 rigid therewith and mounted within the ring orcylinder 55.

The ring or cylinder 55 is provided with five ports 56 57,58, 59 and 60,which are adapted to be brought into register with suitable passages inthe valve 55', so as to permit the compressed fluid to be admitted toone side or the other of a cylinder or other device, whereby, uponmovement of the vessel, the Searchlight 4 is correspondingly moved inthe reverse direction, thus maintaining it in its fixed horizontal orother predetermined plane, due to the action of the pendulum 53. Whilefor this purpose I may provide any suitable construction, I have hereinrepresented a passage 61, leading from any suitable source of fluidunder pressure, as for example compressed air.

The passage 61 is at all times in open relation with the port 58 in thefixed ring or casing 55, whereby admitting such fluid to the valve 55.The latter is provided with three passages 62, 6'3 and 64, so that uponrelative movement of the ring or cylinder with respect to the valve, thefluid under pressure may be admitted to either side of 'a piston and beexhausted from the other side thereof.

Leading from and in constant communication with the ports 57 and 59 arepassages 65, 66, which lead to opposite ends of a .cylinder 67 havingtherein a piston 68, the

piston rod 69 whereof is pivotally connected by link 69' to a bracket70, depending from and fixedly attached to the body of the Searchlight4. Thus, upon movement of the vessel up or down, compressed fluid willbe admitted through the supply pipe 61 into the proper passage 65 or 66,thereby to move the piston 68 to the right or left, viewing Fig. 3, thusmoving the Searchlight 4 up or down, and thereby maintaining it in itspredetermined and preferably horizontal plane. When compressed fluid issupplied through the passage 65, it is exhausted from the passage 66,which, by means of the passage 64 in the valve 55, is in register withthe exhaust port 60, and conversely, when compressed air is admittedthrough the passage 66, it is exhausted through the passage 65 and theports 57, 56. The passages 43, 61, 65, and 66 may be pipes of suitableflexible material permitting the described stabilizing movements.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that I have providedmeans whereby a beam or ray of light may be maintained in a fixed orpredetermined plane, irrespective of movements of the body whereon thesource of light is mounted, so that said light may be used as a guidefrom which the distant observer may ascertain the source of the vesselor other movable body whereon the source of light is located. I havealso provided means controlled from the distant control station foremitting light only at the desired periods or intervals, the emission oflight thus being constantly under the control of the distant observer.

f It will further be understood from the foregoing description thatwithin the scope of my invention I may provide a guide or signal ofsuitable type thereon, and may maintain the same in a fixed orpredetermined plane, so that it will not partake of movements of thebody whereon it is mounted. 1

Having thus described certain illustrative embodiments of my invention,I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims: f

1. A "system for controlling a light beam comprising in combination, alight-beam source supported upon a movable body subject to irregularmovements, a controller, means controlled thereby and operativelyconnected to said light-beanrsource to stabilize said light beam, anelectric circuit responsive to radiant energy from a distanceforcontrolling the emission of said light beam; fluid pressure meanscontrolled by said responsive circuit, and means operatively connectedthereto to permit the emission of and to occult said stabilized lightbeam.

2. A system for controlling a light beam comprising in combination, alight-beam source supported upon a movable body subject to irregularmovements, means for stabilizing said source, an electric circuitresponsive to radiant energy from a distance for controlling theemission of said light beam, fluid pressure means controlled by ing saidlight beam when said first mentioned means is mounted upon a bodysubjected to irregular movements, a shutter carried by said firstmentioned means for controlling the emission of said beam, and meansresponsive to radiant energy for actuating said shutter.

4;. The combination with means for pro jecting a light beam, of meansincluding a gyroscope for stabilizing said beam when said firstmentioned means is mounted upon a body subjected to irregular movements,a shutter carried by said first mentioned means for controlling theemission of said beam, and means responsive toradiant energy foractuating said shutter.

5. The combination with means for projecting a beam of light, of meansforstabilizing said first mentioned means, when mounted upon a movablebody, and means responsive'to radiant energy for controlling theemission of a light beam from said first mentioned means.

6. The combination with means for projecting a beam of light, of meansincluding a gyroscope for-stabilizing said first mentioned means, andmeans responsive to radiant energy for controlling the emission of alight beam from said first mentioned means.

7. The combination with means for projecting a pencil of light, of meansincluding .a gyroscope for stabilizing said first mentioned means, andmeans responsive to radiant energy for occulting the pencil of light 8.The combination with means for projeoting a pencil of light,.of meansincluding a gyroscope for stabilizingsaid first mentioned means, andmeans responsive to radiant energy to permit the emission of and forocculting the pencil of light.

9. The combination with means for projecting av pencil of light, ofmeans including ee a-are a gyroscope for stabilizing said beam when saidfirst mentioned means is mounted upon a body subjected to irregularmovements, means for occulting pencil of light and means responsive toradiant energy for controlling said occulting means.

\ 10. The combination with means for projec'ting a pencil of light, ofmeans including a gyroscope for stabilizing said beam when said firstmentioned means is mounted upon a body subjected to irregular movements,means to permit the emission of and for occulting a pencil of light, andmeans responsive to radiant energy for controlling said emitting andocculting means.

11. The combination with means for projecting a pencil of light, ofmeans for stabilizing said first mentioned means when mounted on amovable body, and means responsive to radiant energy for occulting thepencil of light.

12. The combination with means for projecting a pencil of light, ofmeans for stabilizing said first mentioned means when mounted on amovable body, and means responsive to radiant energy to permit theemission of and for occulting the pencil of light.

13. A system for controlling a light beam comprising in combination, alight-beam source supported upon a movable body supject to irregularmovements, :1. gyroscope for stabilizing the light-beam whereby thedirection of emission of light is independent of the orientation of saidbody, an electric circuit responsive to radiant energy from a distanceand means included in and controlled by said circuit to permit theemission of and to occult said stabilized light beam.

In testimony whereoii I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

WM. E. Kmn, L. BELLE Tenn.

